Corey Collymore, a bowler currently out of the West Indies squad, was Fidel Edwards’ secret weapon as he returned to the Test scene with three important wickets on the opening day of the deciding match with Sri Lanka. Edwards made the initial blows after the home side picked an all-pace attack, but the visitors recovered from 117 for 5 through an unbeaten 100-run partnership between Tillakaratne Dilshan and Chamara Silva.”I got a bit more focussed,” Edwards said. “Corey has been telling me that I need to be a bit more patient on this wicket and let the ball do the talking.”Injuries and inconsistent form have limited Edwards to 31 Tests and he came back into the squad after missing the opening loss in Guyana. He said being out of the team gave him time to reflect on advice from Collymore, who has not played an international match since last year’s tour of England.”We don’t live too far apart and we’re always talking,” Edwards said. “If we don’t talk in person, we talk on the phone and he has been talking to me a lot. He helped me a lot throughout the years.”Edwards used the tips on the way to picking up 3 for 50 in 12.3 overs, including the valuable wicket of Kumar Sangakkara for 10. “I thought the first spell was okay, I got the ball in the right areas most of the time,” he said. “It was swinging for me, it was overcast conditions.”He collected both openers before Jerome Taylor chipped in with a couple of wickets, but the bowlers’ task was made harder when the ball became wet after a series of rain breaks. “The ball has been going through to the keeper pretty nice and it has been seaming a bit,” he said. “The pitch has a lot of grass on it, hopefully it can get hard. It is not as fast as I thought it would be, but as the sun comes on it hopefully it can get hard.”
Robert Croft’s 65 and an unbroken stand of 88 with James Harris, the 17-year-old fast bowler, prevented a total collapse by Glamorgan on the first day against Nottinghamshire at Swansea. Glamorgan, already decimated by injury, lost Jimmy Maher in the warm-up with a groin strain, and then Charlie Shreck removed both openers early to leave the home side tottering on 75 for 4 before David Hemp steadied the ship with a fighting 55. Hemp hit eight fours in his fifty and shared in a 69-run stand with Richard Grant (41). But Nottinghamshire’s bowlers hit back, reducing Glamorgan to 193 for 8 before Croft and Harris dropped anchor in their valuable ninth-wicket stand. At stumps, Glamorgan were 281 for 8.Derbyshire took the honours on the first day against Gloucestershire at Derby, thanks to an opening stand of 181 between Steve Stubbings and Dan Birch. Birch cracked 12 fours and three sixes in his 95 before edging the economical Alex Gidman to slip, but Stubbings motored onwards and upwards to register a 201-ball hundred. Gloucestershire, whose bowlers pulled off a thrilling win over Northants yesterday, hit back in the final session as Derbyshire fell from 280 for 2 to 288 for 5. Vikram Banerjee picked up 2 for 46.
Jason Gillespie, who is the first nightwatchman to score a double-century, could scarcely believe his feat and said that it was like a fairytale.”This is ridiculous,” Gillespie told . “I was just lucky that the shots came off and I had a bit of a laugh all the way. It’s unbelievable. It’s a fairytale really. Hansel and Gretel and Dizzy’s double-hundred, it’s one and the same. Absolute fairytale.”On reaching the landmark, Gillespie ran towards the dressing-room, bat in one hand and helmet in the other, and took a bow. He said that Michael Hussey, his partner during a 320-run partnership for the fourth wicket, kept informing him as he beat the highest scores of illustrious Australian batsmen. “He [Hussey] knew every Test player and former Test player’s highest score and was ticking them off. Went past Mark Waugh [153], he told me that. Went past Michael Clarke [151], he told me that. Went past Steve Waugh [200] and Boonie [David Boon 200].”Hussey said that he didn’t want to be beaten by Gillespie and that kept him going as well. He was eventually out for 182. “I think it was a real testament to his concentration, really, to be able to bat for so long,” said Hussey. “Especially since he’s not a recognised batsman as such. So that was quite a bit of motivation for me to keep going as well because I didn’t want to be outdone by Diz. And also Matty [Matthew] Hayden had a bit of a bet with Diz [Gillespie] as well.”Gillespie later revealed the nature of the wager Hayden had placed. “He [Hayden] reckoned he’s going to do a nude run of The Oval if I got 200. I said if I got 200, I’d do a nude lap too. Not sure about that one, being in a Muslim country, I don’t think it’ll be perceived right, unlike anywhere else.”Gillespie was commended for his powers of concentration by John Buchanan, the coach, and Merv Hughes, the Australian selector. “Considering Jason hadn’t made a hundred in any form of cricket, it was an amazing innings,” said Buchanan. “For any batsman, particularly a nightwatchman, to sustain an innings of over 400 balls is something we may never see again.””You have to be here to believe it,” said Hughes. “People back home are going to wonder how he did it. But he thoroughly deserved it. He was a picture of concentration and control and like any good batsman, he knew his limitations and strengths.”
Ashantha de Mel, Sri Lanka’s chairman of selectors, has been sacked by Jeewan Kumaratunga, the sports minister, just three weeks after being reappointed for a fresh one-year term. Lalith Kaluperuma has been appointed as the chairman of a new trimmed down five-man panel.Kumaratunga had reappointed de Mel in April, claiming at the time that there was “no reason” to change the previous year’s seven-man selection committee. However, recent changes within the administration, most importantly the appointment of Jayantha Dharmadasa as interim board chairman, have prompted a rethink.Indeed, the sudden removal of de Mel and Ranjith Madurasinghe has raised suspicious eyebrows within the local media, who fear that the minister’s U-turn may have political rather than cricketing objectives. Both de Mel and Madurasinghe were more closely aligned with the out-of-favour Thilanga Sumathipala.While Kaluperuma, a former Sri Lanka offspinner who has served on the selection panel since April 2003, is a safe hand well-respected as a selector, two remaining members of the panel, KM Nelson and Shabbir Asgerally, have no first-class experience as players. The other two panel members are former Sri Lanka cricketers Don Anurasiri and Pramodya Wickramasinghe.de Mel’s tenure in charge of the selection committee included an embarrassing public spat with Marvan Atapattu, the captain, triggered by de Mel’s criticism of senior players in an outspoken newspaper interview during Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan last year. de Mel accused the team management of standing in the way of the selectors’ desire to blood younger players for the future.The criticism was swiftly followed by the summary dismissal of Tillakaratne Dilshan from the Test team, a move that forced Atapattu to experiment with a novice in the middle order and enraged the team management. However, the pair patched up their differences, in public at least, after the tour.While de Mel’s decision-making was questioned over the Dilshan affair, the independence of his panel also won respect in the face of growing behind-the-scenes politicking last year to include veteran Hashan Tillakaratne. De Mel’s panel stood firm and demanded more runs from Tillakaratne to justify a recall at 37.The new panel’s first task is to select an A team training squad for West Indies A’s tour of Sri Lanka in late May and June. The squad’s composition will be analysed with interest to see whether the selection changes will bring a noticeable change in direction.The new selection panel Lalith Kaluperuma Shabbir Asgerally KM Nelson Don Anurasiri Promodya Wickramasinghe
Cricket Australia today announced that the women’s national selection panel has chosen a 13-player squad to take on New Zealand in the first leg of the six-match Rose Bowl series beginning in Auckland on 11 February.The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad is:
Player
State
Player type
ODI caps
Belinda Clark (captain)
Victoria
RHB
89
Karen Rolton (vice-captain)
South Australia
LHB, LM
67
Alex Blackwell
New South Wales
RM, RHB
5
Kris Britt
South Australia/ACT
RHB, LB
3
Leonie Coleman
New South Wales
RHB, WKT
0
Shannon Cunneen
New South Wales
RHB, WKT
0
Cathryn Fitzpatrick
Victoria
RF, RHB
67
Julie Hayes
New South Wales
RM, RHB
23
Melanie Jones
Victoria
RHB
38
Lisa Keightley
New South Wales
RHB, OB
54
Clea Smith
Victoria
RHB, RM
12
Lisa Sthalekar
New South Wales
RHB, OB
17
Emma Twining
New South Wales
RM, RHB
12
Team management: Stephen Jenkin (coach), Claire Connolly (team manager), Barry Nievandt (assistant coach), Lisa Ross (physiotherapist), Sally Bailey (physical conditioning coordinator).In a series of changes, New South Wales pair Leonie Coleman and Shannon Cunneen have been drafted into the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars team for the first time.Cunneen comes into the Australian team from outside the original 2003-04 Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad named in April 2003. The 26-year-old has scored 230 runs in the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) at an average of 32.85, finishing in the competition’s top 10 run-scorers.Wicket-keeper Coleman, 24, has previously represented Australia at youth level and has enjoyed a consistent year for the New South Wales Breakers, with six dismissals behind the stumps.A further change to the Australian line-up sees New South Wales stalwart Lisa Keightley step out of retirement to make a return to the national team.Keightley, who announced her retirement from the international level in December 2002, played 54 one-day internationals for Australia. She did not play in Australia’s recent Ashes Tests or its limited-overs series against New Zealand, India and England last year, but has played for state team New South Wales this season.Wicket-keeper Julia Price and top-order batters Melissa Bulow and Michelle Goszko have been omitted from the squad which contested the Ashes and one-day international series in 2003.Chairperson of selectors Margaret Jennings said the changes to the squad were about keeping the team balanced and flexible.”Shannon Cunneen has had an exceptional year in the WNCL, playing as an attacking batter and that’s something we encourage and are looking for in terms of developing the right squad for next year’s World Cup,” said Jennings.”Certainly the three players who have been left out of the team are still in the minds of selectors, but we have to take into account current form among other factors in choosing the best side for the series.”Julia Price is obviously a very experienced player to lose from the side and was a little unlucky to miss out. She started the year slowly and has come through the season with some strong form.”But by the same token, we want to give Leonie Coleman a chance and see how she performs in New Zealand. Leonie has had a consistent year and done everything asked of her, so she deserves this opportunity.”The side will gain the experience of Lisa Keightley who makes her return. Lisa has had a great season and put herself back into contention for the national team and we feel she will fit in well and add some stability to the middle order.”Cunneen said she was thrilled with the news of her selection. “This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I really want to make the most of it,” said Cunneen.”Even though I wasn’t named in the original Australian squad, I still set the goal for myself to work hard because you just never know what can happen, and it shows that selection is open for anyone who is playing well enough.”Coleman said her experience at youth level would assist in making the step into the international arena. “I’m rapt that the selectors have shown faith in bringing me into the squad,” said Coleman.”The chance to represent Australia at the highest level has been my dream and after gaining a taste of international competition with the youth side, I’m looking forward to this next challenge of playing with the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars.”The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars team was chosen by the three-person national selection panel consisting of former Australian players Margaret Jennings (Chairperson) and Wendy Weir, and former Australian coach Peter Bakker.Australia plays New Zealand in six one-day international matches in the annual clash for the Rose Bowl trophy.The six-match limited-over series includes three matches in New Zealand (11, 15 and 17 February) and three matches in Australia at Sydney’s Bankstown Oval (21 February), Victoria’s Albert Ground (25 February) and Hobart’s Bellerive Oval (27 February).The Australian squad will be reselected at the end of the New Zealand leg of the tour, and announced on 18 February.Meanwhile, a 13-player Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars squad has also been named to play New Zealand A in four limited-over matches at Lincoln, New Zealand, beginning on 8 February.The Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars squad is:
Player
State
Player type
Leah Poulton (captain)
New South Wales
RHB, LB
Kate Blackwell (vice-captain)
New South Wales
RHB, RM
Sarah Aley
New South Wales
RHB, RM
Sarah Andrews
New South Wales
RHB, RM
Kelly Applebee
Victoria
RHB, RM
Reanna Browne
Queensland
RHB, LB
Lauren Ebsary
South Australia
RHB, RM
Kirsten Pike
Queensland
RHB, RMF
Jodie Purves
Queensland
RHB, RM, WKT
Leteysha Randall
Queensland
RHB, RF
Emma Sampson
South Australia
LHB, RM
Lauren Stammers
Western Australia
RHB, RM
Julie Woerner
South Australia
RHB
Team management: Ken Davis (coach), Rina Hore (team manager), Chris Teale (physiotherapist).The Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars will contest four limited-over matches against New Zealand A in New Zealand from 8 February. The schedule is
Hampshire County Cricket Club confirmed today that Robin Smith has been appointed as Hampshire captain for the 2002 season. Will Kendall was also confirmed as vice-captain.”The club,” stated Tim Tremlett (Hampshire’s Director of Cricket) “have every confidence in appointing Robin for another season. He has proved his leadership over the past few years, none more so than leading the team into the First Division of the County Championship in 2001.”Robin Smith was jubilant at his re-appointment. “It is a delight to captain such a great bunch of lads” he mused. “I feel confident that we will be able to compete in the top Division, and I look forward to the forthcoming season with renewed optimism.”Hampshire also confirmed that Dimitri Mascarenhas had signed a new two year contract. Dimmi has had an ankle operation in Australia and is now ready to play again, with his fitness improving by the day.
Delhi managed to quell Haryana’s spirited challenge for the firstinnings lead on the final day of their North Zone Ranji Trophy leaguetie at Gurgaon. Spinners Rahul Sanghvi and Virender Shewag managed tohustle out Haryana for 339, just ten runs short of Delhi. The visitorsthen leisurely proceeded to 147/2 in 55 overs as the match descendedinto a soporific draw.Resuming at 300/7, Haryana’s hopes were pinned on Ishan Ganda,unbeaten on 54 overnight. He and Feroze Ghyas took the score to 338,at which moment the hosts would have thought they had five firstinnings points in the bag. But they lost three wickets in the space of3.5 overs for the addition of a solitary run.Ganda was last out, bowled by Sanghvi for 62, the left arm spinnerfinishing with 3/61. Akash Chopra (65 not out) and Ashu Dani (54) tookthe opportunity to indulge in some useful batting practise, adding 113for the first wicket. Dani fell for 54 and Pradeep Chawla soonfollowed in the only dents Haryana were able to make in almost fourhours on the field.Earlier on the third day, Haryana had moved from 98/2 to 300/7, mainlyon the efforts of skipper Parender Singh and Ganda. One-drop JasvirSingh fell for 68 in the tenth over of the day to Ashish Nehra. Theleft arm seamer grabbed one more wicket later in the day, finishingthe innings with figures of 4/93.All four victims were caught by skipper and wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya.It was another good outing for Nehra after having mopped up eightwickets in Delhi’s earlier victory over Services. Parender shoulderedthe Haryana innings with a manful 73 (199 balls, 8 fours, 1 six)before being trapped leg before by Robin Singh jr.
An Everton journalist has spotted what looks to be a handball by Wilfried Zaha shortly before Jean-Philippe Mateta put Crystal Palace 2-0 up in their FA Cup clash this afternoon.
The Lowdown: Comfortable win
It was a comfortable win for the home side in the end at Selhurst Park, despite the visitors actually starting the game quite well.
Unfortunately for Frank Lampard’s side, Marc Guehi gave the Eagles the lead with a header from a corner, before Mateta, Zaha and Will Hughes added to their misery.
Nonetheless, there seems to be a bit of controversy surrounding the second Palace goal.
The Latest: Zaha handball
Taking to Twitter, after footage appearing to show Zaha slapping the ball shortly before Mateta scored was shared across the platform, The Liverpool Echo reporter Adam Jones was left baffled that the goal was not ruled out, as VAR seemed to miss the incident in the build-up.
He fumed: “Errrrr, excuse me? Didn’t see this on the other side of the pitch at the time but that’s absolutely blatant isn’t it?”
The Verdict: Should not have stood
Given that Zaha then collected the ball again on the wing shortly after the handball, before firing in his cross for Mateta to score, VAR should have intervened and ultimately the goal should not have stood.
Patrick Vieira’s men were already 1-0 up at that point, but given Everton’s bright start, they could easily have got back into the game had VAR intervened and the goal not stood.
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It was not just Jones who seemed confused by the incident, and the Toffees can feel quite hard done by over Zaha’s unpunished indiscretion.
In other news, a ‘big blow’ has now emerged for this Toffees ace
ScorecardNorth Zone wilted in their chase of 242 against West Zone, crashing to 121 inside 36 overs in Visakhapatnam. Wasim Jaffer and Rohit Sharma struck half-centuries for West, before the seamers dictated terms. Only three of North’s specialist batsmen managed to get past double figures, with Rajat Bhatia top scoring with 35.North had immediate success after choosing to field first as seamer Manpreet Gony sent back Yusuf Pathan in the first over before claiming Ajinkya Rahane in the seventh. Jaffer and Rohit combined to add a brisk 138 for the third wicket at just over five runs an over. A double-strike brought North back into the match as Jaffer fell for 64 to the legspinner Amit Mishra, and Rohit followed suit for 78, stumped off Bhatia. Rohit was the more aggressive of the pair – his 78 coming off 97 balls with nine fours and two sixes – while Jaffer’s 64 came off 92 balls with seven fours.The middle and lower order failed to build on after making starts as Sehwag and Gony chipped away at the wickets. Gony finished with 4 for 35 off ten overs while Sehwag managed his four-wicket haul in less than three.Ajit Agarkar and Munaf Patel picked up early wickets to leave North at an embarrassing 2 for 3. Besides the partnership of 46 between Virat Kohli and Bhatia for the fifth wicket, there was no resistance to speak of as North lost wickets at regular intervals. Munaf dismissed Bhatia for 35 while Iqbal Abdulla and Abhishek Nayar took two wickets each to seal the deal.
A petition challenging the formation of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB)women’s wing has been filed in Lahore High Court. The court has asked thePCB chairman; the head of the women’s cricket wing, and the federal sportsministry to file their replies by May 17.The petition was filed by Shaiza Khan, the president of Pakistan Women’s CricketControl Association (PWCCA), whose body has been embroiled in a long-runningbattle with various PCB administrations (and, at one time, two otherindependent bodies) to be recognised as the legitimate body for women’scricket in Pakistan.Khan has already played in three Tests and 40 ODIs andwas widely acknowledged as being the sole driving force behind women’scricket in Pakistan in the 1990s.She told Cricinfo that setting up a women’s wing is in direct contraventionof the board’s constitution. “There is nothing in the constitution to saythey can set up a women’s wing,” she said. “They have to make an amendment to it.”The board currently operates, and has done so since 1999, on an ad-hocbasis. Despite sustained criticism and protest, the constitution remains inlimbo, pending approval from law authorities.But Khan points out that even operating on an ad-hoc basis prevents theboard from making any structural changes. “There is a legal ruling from 1995that says that the ad-hoc committee cannot make structural changes likethis.”The PWCCA has been recognised as the official women’s cricket body byvarious board chairmen in the past, including Arif Abbasi and Tauqir Zia. Itwas under Shaharyar Khan’s tenure that the women’s wing was set up by thePCB, much to the consternation of Khan.”Shaharyar Khan had sent us a letter discussing cooperation,” she said, “but he withdrew the letter a few days before our meeting with the IWCCA in South Africa about the merger of women’s cricket bodies with national bodies.”Khan has also met the incumbent PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf in February who hasoffered to look into the matter, but she has refrained from contacting the ICC. “We haven’t been in touch with them because the matter needsto be sorted out here in Pakistan, and not outside.Though the wing was set up in 2004, Khan says it has taken this long tofind a lawyer willing to fight the case. “We want to reinstitute the PWCCAwith its own constitution. That is the aim of challenging the formation ofthe women’s wing.”